Granada and Masaya Volcano Day Tour: 9-Hour Itinerary and Prices

Granada and the Masaya volcano fit in one 9-hour day from Rivas or San Juan del Sur. The Monkeys Travels & Tours Granada + Masaya Volcano tour covers Granada's colonial center on foot, a boat ride through the Isletas, the artisan market in Masaya and the Santiago crater, from US$45 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$80 solo. Here is how the day breaks down.

The 9-hour itinerary

The order below is the one we use on most days. The fixed point is the Masaya Volcano National Park, whose day shift ends at 16:30, so the crater is the last stop.

1. Morning pickup in Rivas or San Juan del Sur. Private vehicle, only your group, with bilingual guides born in Rivas. We head north on the Panamericana toward Granada.
2. Granada on foot. Granada was founded in 1524 by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, on 21 April according to the date most often cited, which makes it one of the first European cities on the American mainland still standing on its original site. We walk from the Parque Central and the cathedral along the streets of painted facades toward the shore of Lake Cocibolca, also called Lake Nicaragua. Your guide points out the houses, churches and courtyards that explain why the city looks the way it does.
3. Boat through the Isletas. On the lake shore we board a boat for the Isletas de Granada, an archipelago of small islands commonly counted as 365. Birds, private houses, a small fort and fishermen share the channels.
4. Lunch in Granada. Not included in the price. We suggest places; you pay for what you order.
5. Masaya artisan market. The craft market in Masaya is where hammocks, pottery, leather and wood from the surrounding villages are sold. It is the practical place to buy gifts on this route.
6. Masaya Volcano National Park. The vehicle drives up to the parking area at the rim of the Santiago crater. According to a report from 30 July 2026 (seen November 3, 2026), time at the edge is limited to about 5 minutes, entry for foreigners is US$5 (C$180) on the day shift of 8:30 to 16:30, and walking up to the crater on foot is not allowed. Entrances are included in the Monkeys price.
7. Return to Rivas or San Juan del Sur. Drop-off at your hotel.

Masaya volcano hours and fees, July 2026

Source: Sally Sees, 30 July 2026 and TN8. Two warnings apply. The park can close without notice because of volcanic activity, and the hours change, so we confirm the day before and tell you if the plan has to move. Also, the same July 2026 report says the lava glow is less visible than in previous years. We do not promise lava.